Tenomania.com

People often ask me “how can I speed up my computer?” or say “My computer is running very slow”.

Here are some things that you can do to speed up your computer.

1. Restart

Restarting your computer fixes %90 of issues and will free up memory from applications that are no longer using it. You should restart your computer once a week at minimum.

2. Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware

Use this application to remove junk programs from taking up resources on your computer. This will significantly help for many users and should be done once a week.

3. Defrag your hard drive

Go to Start > all programs > accessories > system tools > Disk Defragmenter. This should be completed every few months for most users.

4. Hard drive space

Filling a hard drive up completely will make disk searching take longer slowing down performance. Run disk cleanup to remove any unnecessary files.

5. Add more memory

You computer may not have enough memory. Memory is not to be confused with hard drive space which is where your files are stored. the 32 bit version of Windows can handle up to 4GB of ram. You can check to see how much ram you have by right clicking on the “My Computer” icon and selecting properties, a windows will pop up displaying the amount of RAM at the bottom.

6. Uninstall unused programs

Any programs that you do not use are just taking up space and resources. Uninstall unused programs by going to control panel then “add/remove programs” in XP or “programs and features” in Vista.

7. Don’t run programs that you are not using

Close programs that you are not using is pretty straight forward. If you are not using a program that is open, it is still taking up resources and slowing your PC down.

8. Internet cache cookies

Clear out you browser’s cookies and cache. In IE go to tools > internet options > choose delete under “browser history”.

In Firefox click tools > clear private data.

9. MSCONFIG change startup

Be careful with this one so that you don’t inadvertently disable something important.

click start > run > type “msconfig” then press enter. Here you can disable startup items that are not being used. Be sure that you know what your are disabling or you can really screw things up.

10. Use Firefox instead of IE

Firefox has been proven to be faster than IE, USE IT!

If we kept all the computers we purchased over the past decade, the office would be impassable. Laptops and desktops, both office-owned and personal, tend to fizzle and die with their warranties. While this passing is predictable, the disposal of their bodies and inner workings provides a dilemma for many owners.

Unfortunately, you can’t burn those computers and scatter their ashes over some Rocky Mountain pass. Those machines are filled with toxic chemicals, carcinogens and heavy metals that will, eventually, leech into the ground and find a way into some water source. Fortunately, you have access to several dozen creative recycling solutions for that old computer. The ten most popular solutions are listed below, along with links to resources that provide step-by-step instructions on how to conduct each process.

1. Recycle

Recycling that old computer seems the most logical conclusion, but this process is fraught with complicated issues. How do you protect the material contained on that old hard drive? Where does that computer go once it’s left your hands? Since ID theft and e-waste smuggling operations are rife, your computer may end up in the hands of the wrong person in the wrong country.

You can eliminate the first problem by using a product like Eraser that eliminates all data on your hard drive. Your diligence in this effort will help you rest assured that you haven’t passed on any readable private data. The second solution involves discovering where that recycling center sends your computer and its parts once they take charge. According to Treehugger, developed countries have been exporting tons of electronic waste to China for inexpensive, labor-intensive recycling and disposal for years. This activity was made illegal in 2000, but smuggling, corruption, and “China’s appetite for scrap” opens doors for your old computer to take part in this nefarious cycle.

Since manufacturers want to avoid any scandal, this recycling route would be the easiest one to take. Simply send that old Dell back to Dell and the old Gateway back to Gateway, etc. Some manufacturers may charge a fee for this process. Other manufacturers may not charge a fee, but you may have to purchase packing materials and postage to send that computer back to its source. Read the Treehugger article and another article by Salon, as both pieces offer sound advice on how you can handle the computer recycling process responsibly. You can search through E-cycling’s database to find a reliable recycler near you.

2. Donate

Based on the adage that one person’s junk is another person’s treasure, you might donate that old computer. As Techsoup states, it works best if you donate your equipment to a nonprofit or school-based refurbisher rather than directly to a charity or school, especially if you need to wipe your hard drive or if you’re unsure about your equipment’s condition. Responsible refurbisher pass your equipment along to nonprofits and schools after they ensure that it’s been cleaned out and working properly. Additionally, they will dispose of e-waste after they cull through the equipment to salvage usable parts.

Free Geek is, perhaps, becoming the most well-known organization to handle this process because they salvage what they can and dispose of the rest responsibly. Although this organization is located in Oregon, plans to expand nationwide are underway. But, if you can’t wait for a Free Geek to open near you, you can find a local or regional refurbisher through Techsoup’s list, which is searchable by Zip Code.

Finally, if you cannot find a local refurbisher, you might go directly to those who need used computer equipment. Online resources like Share the Technology offer ways for you to connect directly with organizations that need specific equipment through matches. If you can’t find a match, you can post an offer to donate and wait for someone to contact you.

3. Resell

Yes, you can sell that idle or dead computer locally, but you’ll find more buyers through an option like eBay. eBay is involved with the Rethink Initiative that makes it easy for you to deal with all your used electronic equipment. You can sell the items yourself through eBay (they provide you with a checklist before you sell that computer), or you can use three solutions:

• Trade in your old technology for PayPal cash
• Find a drop-off or pickup location through Zip Code search where those folks will sell your equipment on eBay for a percentage; 3) Find a local trading assistant who can handle the selling process for you.

The market value for used computers drops dramatically after two years, so don’t expect to make a fortune when you go this route. You can search through places like the Used Computer Mall to make sure that you’re asking and receiving fair market value. If your computer is more than three years old, your best bet is to recycle or donate – but the latter option might be limited for computers that are less than five-years-old.

4. Recycle, Donate, Resell (aka: Cannibalize)

This option is for the person who wants to sell old equipment by parts, much like you would dissect an old automobile or motorcycle for parts sales. Some peripherals, for example, are perfect for reuse; computer cords and speakers are fairly standardized, meaning they can be used for a variety of computer models and makes. You could hold onto those items or resell them for a higher price than equipment that’s outdated or damaged.

Other materials, like ink cartridges or one-time-use CDs and disks, are more difficult to deal with. Earth911 offers a Zip Code search engine that lists companies and organizations where you can take those items for recycle or donation. When you list items for sale on eBay or through other venues, be sure to include the name of the component, part and serial number, and any other pertinent information so that the buyer can find those parts easily and you won’t waste time answering questions.

5. Return

Companies like Gateway and HP have trade-in programs where you can deduct a certain amount from the cost of a new computer or receive a credit toward merchandise. You can also trade that laptop in for a TigerDirect gift certificate. Once again, you will receive fair market value, which may not be enough to purchase a keyboard. Be prepared for that possibility.

6. Keep it in the family

A five-year-old system may contain too many bugs for useful service, but it may have potential as a learning tool for those kids or cousins who are potential electronics geeks. They can tear that system apart and rebuild something useful (offer them the ideas below). Make a deal where they will recycle or donate any parts they don’t use in the process. If your computer remains functional, let the kids play with it after you remove all sensitive material and install instructional games. Once the kids have destroyed the computer beyond belief you can make a decision about where to go from there.

7. Dedicated Jukebox/Recording Box

If you’ve accumulated so many digital music files that they would consume half the hard disk in your new computer, use the old system to play your MP3 files. You can transfer the files to CD and then connect your sound card’s 1/8-inch stereo plug to a pair of RCA female plugs using a Y cable. Although this solution isn’t portable, it’s cheaper than any hand-held MP3 player.

If you connect a keyboard to your computer’s MIDI port (or – better yet – use a wireless keyboard/mouse combo), you can add your two cents to your music repertoire. You may want to replace your sound card, install some sequencing software, and add more memory if you think the computer will hold up for another year or so. These additions will add to the quality of your efforts.

8. Upgrades/Downgrades

If your computer is less than five-years-old, why not replace a few items rather than purchase a new computer? Upgrade your memory, add a larger hard disk, or replace that CRT monitor with an LCD. For less than one-third the price of a new computer (in most cases) you can eek out a few more years on that computer. This option can help you save your bucks for next-generation systems that will arrive in another two years or so. On the other hand, you can quench that yen for a new computer, but continue to milk the old one for all that it’s worth if you save it for use as a simple word processor. Remove all extraneous software and documents including images and music, and defrag the disk so that you have plenty of space and speed for new documents. You can use the new machine for all your high-tech options and use the older system for all the grunt work. If you feel that the older computer may die on you without notice, just back up documents to CDs as you create them.

9. New Servers/Home Automation

Thiravudh Khoman offers some uses for old 486 computers, but his ideas can be utilized in newer machines as well. Use the old computer as servers for your printer or other apps, as a space to save files, as a backup and/or as a Windows server station. If you’re capable of adding X10 devices, you can use that old system to automate your home (make your coffee, regulate your thermostat, etc.). Scour Automated Home for some of their most popular ideas.

10. Get Creative

Laptop carries a few of the most innovative ideas on how to reuse computer parts, no matter if they belong to your laptop or your desktop. Turn an old keyboard into a wallet or turn an old laptop into a weather/news station with Yahoo! widgets. You can also recycle parts and use the remaining cabinets as pet houses, or paint them and use them for bookshelf or knick-knack units. If you hand these empty units over to the kids to build a playhouse, make sure that you wrap any sharp edges with foam and/or layers of duct tape.

You can always simplify your life and leave the computers on the front lawn with a sign, “Free computer.” Or, you can offer it to someone on Gigoit.com or at Freecycle. Just remember to erase or overwrite that hard drive and realize that personal information can be stored on flash memory cards, floppy discs, tapes, DVDs and CDs as well. But, it’s worth the effort to take responsibility for that old computer when you’re ready to let go. The earth and its six + billion inhabitants (not including animals) will thank you.

1. Learn OOP and common OO principles

This is an absolute requirement. If you are still coding procedural, this is no small task. What are you waiting for?

2. Employ Test Driven Design

Code that is buggy or simply doesn’t work at all can safely be considered "crappy code". TDD gives you the confidence that your code works, and the side effects force better and more flexible software design.

If you are not familiar with TDD yet, and this post has prompted you to try it, be warned: at first it will seem very cumbersome. What definitely will help is this piece of advice, which is at the core of Test Driven Design: don’t write tests afterwards, write them first.

Without going to much into the details, and somewhat simplified the general mantra is this: write a test first, make it work by writing the application code, refactor, write another test, make it work, refactor, etc etc. It’s a cycle. The application code follows the test code, not the other way around. I recommend PHPUnit. It has the most features and the largest adoption.

3. Refactor, refactor, refactor

Refactoring means "to improve the design of existing code". Making changes to code results in an increasing loss of quality of that code, this is known as "software decay". To battle this phenomenon, you have to constantly evaluate if the code hasn’t lost its quality, and look for opportunities to improve the design beyond its original. But there’s a catch. And it isn’t the time that refactoring takes, if you do it properly you’ll save those hours by having avoided software decay. It is the risk of change.

I can understand if you are hesitant to change code that works (at least for now). But this is where number two comes back into play: as long as you’ve written the right tests, you can make sure your changes don’t break anything.

4. Simpler is better

Your mind should constantly be waging a battle between simplicity and flexibility. Avoid unnecessary complication.

5. Use Design Patterns

Design Patterns describe real world software design problem and solutions. Make sure you are familiar with them, buy some books. If you encounter a design problem that seems familiar take your trusty GoF and PoEAA from the shelf and look it up.

6. Don’t Use Design Patterns

Once you are familiar with Design Patterns, or even just with the existence of them, it can be tempting to start sprinkling pattern implementations over your application code, just because you can. Don’t. Remember a Design Pattern consists of a problem and one or more solutions to that problem. Until you have the problem, don’t use the solution.

7. Accept the limitations of your language

Believe me, I know that as a programmer it is difficult to accept limitations on bending your code to your will, but trying to change the behavior of PHP is not the solution. PHP has limitations, you’ll have to live with them. If you try to "patch" them, chances are you will do more harm than good.

8. Pretend you are writing a book

It has been said that "code should be easy to read rather than easy to write". Maybe somebody else will need to understand your code at some stage. Maybe two years from now, you will revisit this code and need to re-learn its inner workings.

Semantics, meaningful docblocks and clear execution flow are everything. Imagine reading an instruction manual without pictures, filled with meaningless abbreviations, and with the pages in arbitrary order, without page numbers. That’s how someone, maybe you, will feel if you ignore this advice.

9. Peer Review

Believe it or not, you don’t know everything and you aren’t always right. Nobody is. Getting a "second opinion" can only improve the end result.

10. E_STRICT is your friend

Make sure your code runs properly with E_STRICT turned on. Although, if you have gotten this far, I don’t think that will be a problem.

1. Maintain at least two email addresses

You should use your private address only for personal correspondence. The public address should be the one you use to register on public forums, in chat rooms, to subscribe to mailing lists etc.

2. Never publish your private address on publicly accessible resources

3. Your private address should be difficult to spoof

Spammers use combinations of obvious names, words and numbers to build possible addresses. Your private address should not simply be your first and last name. Be creative and personalize your email address.

4. If you have to publish your private address electronically, mask it to avoid having it harvested by spammers

Joe.Smith@yahoo.com is easy to harvest, as is Joe.Smith at yahoo.com. Try writing Joe-dot-Smith-at-yahoo-dot-com instead. If you need to publish your private address on a web-site, do this as a graphics file rather than as a link.

5. Treat your public address as a temporary one

Chances are high that spammers will harvest your public address fairly quickly. Don’t be afraid to change it often.

6. Always use your public address to register in forums, chat rooms and to subscribe to mailing lists and promotions

You might even consider using a number of public addresses in order to trace which services are selling addresses to spammers.

7. Never respond to spam

Most spammers verify receipt and log responses. The more you respond, the more spam you will receive.

8. Do not click on unsubscribe links from questionable sources

Spammers send fake unsubscribe letters in an attempt to collect active addresses. You certainly don’t want to have your address tagged as active, do you? It will just increase the amount of spam you receive.

9. If your private address is discovered by spammers – change it

This can be inconvenient, but changing your email address does help you avoid spam – at least for a while!

10. Make sure that your mail is filtered by an antispam solution

Consider installing a personal antispam solution. Only open email accounts with providers who offer spam filtration prior to mail delivery.

Recently, a good friend of mine had his home broken into by a thief. They came in thru a side window, stole both of his Macs (left both of the PC’s), stole his external hard drive and a couple camcorders. Luckily, none of his family was hurt or threatened as they weren’t home. He has taken all the necessary steps with the local police and they’re still hoping for some results.

I’m surprised at how much this has weighed on my mind.

The first thing I have felt is sorrow for him. The Macs stolen had a high money value, but a much higher sentimental value. He had plenty of scanned photos, digital photos, home videos, email archives, etc that are not replaceable. He had them all on the external drive, but that was stolen too.

Secondly, I’ve been wondering if I’d be ready for something like that. My friend lives in a safe neighborhood. He is smart, careful and organized.

Having this happen to him has reminded me that, cliché or not, this really can happen to anyone.

I’ve started to compile a list of things to consider in preparing for a situation like this if it happened to me. I thought I’d list it here for others.

I won’t be focused so much on things like “be sure your doors and windows are locked” and “be sure your housing perimeter is well lit.” These things are specific to taking care of your Mac and it’s contents.

1. Have A Hard Copy Of Your Serial Number

Your serial number will be on your receipt. Be sure that it is in a safe place. If you only have a digital copy (in an email), print off a copy and keep it somewhere safe. If your Mac is stolen, you’ll want to be sure to give this to the police. It will help them in identifying your stolen property. Also, pawn shops are required to report serial numbers to the local police so they can be cross checked with the reports of theft.

2. Have A Good Backup Of Your Machine

Most people back up in case of data loss, but it’s important to back up in case of data theft as well. Be sure your external hard drive isn’t permanently sitting next to your machine. If you want it always connected, put it in a locked drawer and drill a hole for the power and transfer cable to be fished out. I back up my machines every Friday. As soon as I’m done, I return the external hard drive to the safe in my closet. That keeps it safe from theft and from fire.

At Macminicolo.net, we have some customers who use a colocated mini just to back up their machine each night. If every they have to replace their home Mac, they can download everything from the hosted mini.

3. Look Into Tracking Software

The chances of you getting your machine back are small, but every little bit helps. Consider programs like iAlertU (free) which may scare off a thief. Or programs like Undercover that will track your machine as it connects to the internet. If you have a built in camera, it will take pictures of the person to be sent. If it never connects to the internet, the program “will simulate a hardware failure by gradually making the screen darker until it becomes unusable." Sure, these programs can be erased with a new install of the OS, but every little bit helps. The chances are high that the thief won’t know how to do that. Also, they probably weren’t able to steal your restore disks.

4. Use A Cable Lock

All Apple laptops come with a Kensington Security Slot. These slots make it easy to tether your machine to your desk. Applelocks.com offers inexpensive cable for all kinds of Macs. Both key locks and combination locks are available.

5. Report The Stolen Mac To Apple

Call Apple and report that the Mac has been stolen by giving them the serial. They won’t actively track the Mac, but if anyone comes in to have the machine looked at for repair, the records will indicate that it has been stolen.

6. Get Insurance On Your Machine

Be sure that your Renter’s or Homeowners’s insurance covers your computers. Since this has happened to my friend, my wife and I added computer insurance to our coverage. Our computers, cameras and TV’s are covered up to $30k and it only added $18/ month to our insurance. That is very, very reasonable.

7. Encrypt The Sensitive Data That You Store

If you have banking records, birth certificates and other scanned documents that are sensitive, be sure you keep them in an encrypted disk image. Programs like FreeDMG (free) make this easy to do. Just make a folder of all the files, drop it on there and add an encryption. You can still open it whenever you need something, but a thief wouldn’t be able to do it easily. Send a copy of that image to a family member for safe keeping as well.

8. Get Familiar With eBay and Craigslist

Craigslist and ebay have made it really easy to sell your old junk. It also makes it easy to sell stolen goods. Be sure you are familiar with using these sites. When your machine is stolen, be sure to monitor them for your stolen Mac. ebay will allow you to search the listings that are near your home.

9. Add Your Contact Info To Your Login Window

When your machine starts up, be sure that your contact info is there on the login screen. If the thief never starts up the machine and just sells it off to someone, they’ll start it up and see your “This machine belongs to…” info.

10. Turn Off Automatic Login

It is so convenient to have your machine automatically log into your account, but it’s not safe. Be sure it is set to require your password each time. That way, the thief may have your machine, but not your info. (Again, I’m aware that passwords can be changed with the restore disk, but hopefully they didn’t get that too.)

Conclusion

All of these steps are so easy to do, but they may prove to be really important. Please take the time to do them…or at least some of them.

There are better, faster and lighter components for mobiles that making mobile computing more and more enjoyable with every passing day. When it comes to laptops, their battery really serves as the weakest link, but you can turn this weakness into strength just looking into ways that can boast your laptop battery life. With every passing day, there are more graphic focusing operating systems and loads of energy consuming applications that juice out your laptop battery in the twinkling of any eye. Here are some ways that can keep you on work with your laptop the whole day long.

1. Defrag your hard disks regularly

If you regularly defrag the hard disk it will make your hard drive work less that puts lesser load on your laptop battery and your laptop battery lasts quite longer.

2. You must monitor the usage of resources through Windows Task Manager

It is better to shut down non essential programs in the task bar if you are not online.

3. Most of external devices like USB’s serve as the biggest battery power drainer

You must keep devices like external speakers, PC cards, an external mouse, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and iPod unplug.

4. If you have watched some DVD or CD

don’t leave it anymore in DVD/CD Drives, as they can suck battery power like a swab.

5. Don’t use DVD external drives when you are running your laptop on batteries

you can shift this content to HD or can run it through virtual drives.

6. Another big sink of some laptop is its LCD screen

Use Function key toggles to standardize the brightness at the level you can bear.

7. Mute the speakers

You can maximize the battery life of your laptop by muting the speakers and to avoid using multimedia software.

8. Avoid screensavers

It’s better not to put any screensaver to give little boost to your laptop battery life.

9. Try to get acquainted with the given Power Options

that are available in the Control Panel, familiarity with these options can help you a lot to save considerable power for your laptop.

10. If you are working on lots of programs

when you are on the battery it’s the surest way to drain you laptop juice. Though it’s difficult, try to restrict yourself one or two programs when your laptop runs on battery.

Following these ways you can make the most of your laptop and keep its battery run longer.

 A fresh Windows installation boots up in a breeze but with time, as we go on using the system, installing applications and stuff, the start up time of Windows starts increasing which increases the waiting time before you could actually use the computer after pressing the power button.

Here are 10 ultimate ways to make your Windows system boot faster than ever

1. Remove Unwanted programs from start up

This is one of the most common ways to make windows boot faster. Certain applications add them to the list of start up programs when they are installed. As you go on installing various applications, the number of entries in start-up also increase leading to slower start up. To remove unwanted entries from start up entry :

• Press [Window]+[R] or Start > Run to start run dialog.
• Enter msconfig and press Enter.
• Go to Start up tab and uncheck those entries that you do not want to load at start up and then click on Ok. You might need to restart your computer to see the changes.

Do not uncheck entries like Sound Driver or Display driver that are required to operate your computer smoothly.

2. Disable services that run at start-up

Services are applications that run in background to provide different types of functionality to Windows. Windows loads a large number of services at startup, You can also reduce boot up time by disabling those services that are not required. Here are some services that you could safely disable to speed up boot up process.

To disable services from loading at start up, type msconfig in run dialog and press Enter and then move to Services tab.

• Help and Support: If you never use built in Help and Support then this entry can safely be unchecked.
• Task Scheduler: This service can be safely disabled if you never schedule tasks using Scheduled Tasks  in Control Panel.
• Themes: Themes service allows user to use different visual styles to make windows look more visually appealing. If you prefer performance instead of looks, then disable this service.
• Wireless Zero configuration: This service is used to provide support for 802.11 Wireless connectivity. If you do not use Wi-Fi to connect to other computers then this service can be safely disabled.
• Windows Time: This service lets you synchronize system clock over interment. If you are not connected to Internet or never synchronize your system clock, then you can safely disable this entry.

Note: Some services are critical to operation of Windows and disabling them would hamper Windows operation.

3. Look for spyware/adware

Spywares can be the source of slow boot up of windows as they need to start up with windows to throw annoying pop ups at you. It is always wise to use an Anti-Spyware software such as Spybot Search n destroy, Super Antispyware etc. to keep spywares/adware’s at bay.

4. Defragment your Hard disk

Over time the data on your hard disk gets fragmented which leads to greater access time of data from hard disk. Windows provides inbuilt disk defragmenter to defragment disks.

Defragmenting your hard disks regularly helps reduce file access time and speed up the performance of Windows. Remember, using Windows Disk Defragmenter can take hours to defragment if you are using FAT file system.

5. Reduce number of Fonts Installed

Windows loads each and every font installed in system at start-up so that they can be used by various applications. Keeping number of installed fonts to around 300-400 would help reduce startup time.

To remove fonts, go to C:\Windows\Fonts and copy those fonts you intend to remove and place them in another folder as a backup and then remove the fonts. By this way, your fonts will be saved for later use. Remember not to uninstall fonts pre built in Windows system as they are used by Windows.

6. Changing to Static IP

If you are using a Point to Point over Ethernet (PPPOE) to connect to broadband connection using modem, then most probably your computer is set to use DHCP which automatically assigns IP address to your computer on boot-up. By default, windows takes 120 seconds to locate IP address of your computer using DHCP on boot up.

You can save this time by assigning an IP address to your computer of the type 192.168.1.xx. To do this

• Click on Start, Run
• Type ncpa.cpl and press Enter to open the Network Connection Control Panel
• Right-click on the Local Area Connection and choose Properties
• Click on Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click Properties
• You should see a screen similar to the one below

Fill in your static IP, subnet, default gateway, and DNS server information and click OK. If you aren’t sure of your IP ranges on your router, consult your router manual or your ISP. Using DHCP is fine, although you sacrifice a few seconds for an IP to be assigned to from the network.

7. Disable Unnecessary hardware devices

Windows loads drivers necessary for operation of hardware devices connected to your computer at start up. Not all of the installed hardware is used, then why not disable those devices that are seldom used. To do this

• Start Run Dialog (window+R) and type compmgmt.msc and press Enter.
• From left pane, select Device Manager and then in right pane, select that hardware device you seldom use.
• Right click on it and select Disable. This would disable that device. To use that device again, simply right click on the disabled device and select Enable.

Do not disable devices critical to system operation like Keyboard, Disk Drives etc.

8. Remove Remote – Access

Remote Access is a service that allows your computer to be accessed remotely over a network. This feature is loaded by windows during start up. But in most cases, this feature is not used. This can be disabled by following these steps.

• Right click My computer and select Properties.
• Then select Remote tab and uncheck Allow Remote Assistance.. to disable this feature.

9. Keep your drivers up to date

Keeping your hardware drivers up to date makes the hardware drivers more optimized and bug free than earlier versions. As hardware drivers are loaded at startup, keeping them updated would lead to better performance and faster start ups. You could use a utility like Version Tracker Pro that automatically monitors and downloads latest updates for hardware drivers and software’s.

10. Adjust BIOS settings

By default, the BIOS of computer hardware is set to use DVD/CD drive as first boot device. It first looks for a bootable disk in optical drive and if nothing is found, then moves to hard disk to start boot-up. You could save a few seconds by adjusting your BIOS setup to use hard disk as first boot device.

To do this press Delete key when the splash screen shows up when you turn on the computer. This would open up BIOS settings. Adjust the first boot device and save settings to see the effect.

These tips would help you make your Windows System boot up in a lot lesser time.

1. The number one tip for protecting your system from worms, viruses, spyware and malware is to use Linux

You end up avoiding a good volume of issues regarding security and often enjoy better home PC performance to boot!

2. You should enable and use your Linux firewall

The good part is that your Linux flavor is entirely likely to come with a preconfigured firewall that is sufficient. Please be sure this is enabled when you surf the internet. Most Linux flavors come with a very robust and capable firewall preinstalled, but configuring this may be simplified with some of the graphical firewall interfaces including: Firestarter and Guarddog. The key point about your firewall is that you should enable and use it!

3. Please do not do your internet surfing or day-to-day work on your Linux system as root

Take a brief moment in time and create a secondary login. If you ever need to get superuser powers just use the su command instead of habitually using root, which opens a potentially large hole for fouling up your nice and stable Linux system.

4. Lots of people forget that even though your Linux system may be far less vulnerable to viruses and malware, your Windows systems on the same home network remain vulnerable

One major vulnerability of Windows systems on a Linux network is that the Linux machine inadvertently passes along viruses or malware that did not affect it. You can cover this weak point by downloading and using Linux based antivirus software. Although it is unlikely your AV software will protect your Linux box from anything malicious, it is highly likely it will keep things away from your Windows systems. Ironic but quite true. You can download a few AV Linux software here, or here, or here. You can also find several commercial anti-virus, anti-spam, and anti-malware options.

5. This takes me to the next point (about Linux not flagellation)

There are multitudes of websites out there offering "free" software and downloads. Please avoid Trojans and other problems by downloading your software from reliable sites. Most websites will provide MD5 checksums and verified downloads protecting you from issues. Stick to known and reliable websites. Hey, not all the points are funny okay!

6. Never run executable programs as root

If you login as root and find odd programs you don’t recognize, please take the time to move them to a user space. Never run such programs using the ultra powerful root… unless you’re particularly bored one day or partial to self-flagellation that is.

7. Take the time to download and install a patch if a critical update is announced

How frequently do such advisories occur? For the most part only a few times a year at most (obviously, this depends on your applications as much as your Linux flavor/kernel). The important thing is to realize that home Linux use does not require you to patch every time an announcement is made. Just keep your ears out for critical security related patches, if they come.

In the Windows world there is a tendency towards hyper patching. As a result, some of my technically savvy Windows friends switch over to Linux and start patching their systems on an almost daily routine. Then they come to me, panting and sweaty saying, "Oh man, so many patches!" Ironically, even as Microsoft pointed the blame at RedHat for releasing far more patches, they failed to also point out almost none of the RedHat patches were critical security updates. Patch when critical updates come, otherwise relax and enjoy your stable, quality home Linux PC.

8. Get familiar with the world of OpenSource

on sites like Freshmeat.net and see just how much is available to you regarding every aspect of Open Source software. I’m not just talking about security utilities. I’m also referring to the exceptional power of programs like: Firefox web browser, OpenOffice.org 2.0, Apache projects, and MySQL 5.0, among over 105,000 others.

I’ve been considering printing the full list out in 4 point font and carrying it in my notebook case for that not uncommon moment when someone asks me "is there much software available?" I can just whip out the 100,000+ listing and hand it to them.

9. Get online

and download or order a large set of Knoppix Live Boot CDs and share them freely with your Windows using friends.

This is especially important if you know of a Windows user who recently purchased a DSL or Cable Modem connection and asks you earnestly, "what’s spyware?" Save them, for the love of humankind! Get them using Linux before their system is infested with a dozen spywares consuming their bandwidth and system resources. In fact, these handy "live-cd" releases are good for many things including Emergency Booting a Windows PC! One of my friends foolishly ignored this advice and within 60 seconds of connecting his WindowsXP system on my DSL line had a slew of spyware rooted on his hard drive. Ironically, I had been using the same DSL for six months with a basic SuSe 9.3 release and zero issues crept up. Yes, he took a Knoppix CD home with him that night!

10. Visit a local computer software store

drift through the aisles filled with internet security and spyware protection products and simply walk on past them. You don’t need to spend $49 to protect a home Linux system. Even if you are seriously concerned, there are plenty of Free Open Source solutions available to you that I list later.

Personal computers are often a black box which the owners pretty much know nothing about except how to turn it on and use their PCs. Computers are actually pretty complex but by following a few simple rules you shouldn’t have to worry about what’s under the hood. The list below is a compilation of common mistakes that people make which can lead to serious computer problems.

1. Installing Software with Reckless Abandon

Ahh, this one can be tricky. We love to download all kinds of cool little programs to our computers including software for downloading music, games, new wallpapers, etc. While these can be lots of fun and serve a purpose, many of these programs are a vehicle to install malware on your computer. While it’s not always the case, over time, you may see some extra pop-ups or your computer may begin to run a bit more slowly.

The best thing to do is only download software that you are sure you need and avoid anything from websites that aren’t well known sites.

2. Leaving the Administrator password blank

Its always a bad idea to have a blank administrator password. Without having a password set you make it much easier for hackers and trojan viruses to connect to your computer remotely and take control of it. It’s highly recommended to set a password with at least 8 characters which contains numbers and letters as well as some uppercase letters. Also, its generally a best practice to login to your computer (for all of your daily routines) with an account that does not have admin access. This way you can’t accidentally install software you weren’t intending on or execute a virus you weren’t unaware of.

3. Not Using WEP/WPA Wireless Security

Are you familiar with WEP/WPA? If not, pay close attention to this section. Many people nowadays have switched over to wireless networks and are using either Linksys or Netgear type wireless routers bought from big name electronic stores. One of the great selling points is how easy they are to setup but this out of the box configuration leaves your network wide open for anyone within about a 100-200 foot radius to connect in and surf the Internet on your dime. Not to mention, possibly hacking your computers. Anyways, if you’re setting up one of these wireless routers be sure to read the section on WEP, or even better, WPA security. It’s really not that complicated to setup and it provides you with another strong layer of security.

4. Not Shutting Down Properly

Do you always wait for your computer to fully shutdown? Do you actually go to the Start Menu and Then Shutdown? If so, you’re better than most. Many people just press the power button on their computer and this can cause some serious problems ranging from hardware issues (primarily the hard drive) to things like OS corruption. Whenever possible its definitely better to click the Start button on the lower left corner and then select Shutdown. By doing this, your computer will gracefully shutdown and will leave much less room for any problems.

5. Not Defragging Your Hard Drive

Disk Defragmenter – A simple, yet often forgotten tool, which can be accessed by going to:

Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools

This defrag tool will analyze the volumes on your hard drive and then consolidate fragmented files/folders so that they each occupy a single, contiguous area on the volume. By defragging your drive, your computer will be able to access files and folders more quickly and efficiently. It’s always a good idea to do this at least once a month.

6. Not Installing Windows Security Updates

While many times security updates go unforgotten, these can be the deciding factor on whether or not you get infected with certain viruses/malware or even becoming a victim of someone hacking your computer. It’s highly recommended to download and install updates on a monthly basis. If you don’t think you’ll remember, its probably a good idea to just go into your Control Panel->Automatic Updates and set them to download and install automatically. This way you won’t have to worry about it.

7. Opening Email From People You Don’t Know

This one is very important. A good majority of viruses/malware is spread through emails, whether it’s an attachment or even just an embedded link within the email, so it’s always best to just delete anything you don’t recognize. Many Anti-Virus programs will do much of the work for you but if you’re not sure who the sender is just treat the email as SPAM.

8. No Anti-Virus Installed

In this day and age, there’s no excuse for not having an Anti-Virus program installed. There’s more viruses and spyware out there than ever before and for the $30-50 investment it’s well worth the cost. Some of the good names in Anti-Virus software are Symantec, MacAfee, Panda, and AVG among others. Many computers now come with an AV program preinstalled so its just a matter of purchasing a subscription to download the updates.

9. Not Keeping Your Anti-Virus Updated with New Virus Definitions

Anti-Virus programs need to constantly be updated so they can detect the new viruses as they come out. Without these updates, many viruses will go undetected since the AV software isn’t looking out for it. Having an AV program is important. Having an ‘updated’ AV program is all the difference. If at all possible, setup your AV program to download updates and install them automatically every few days or at most once a week.

10. Not doing backups

First and foremost, the biggest mistake that people make is not backing up their data. Most people have GB’s of important data on their computers and never think twice about the possibility of losing it. That is, until they’re hard drive crashes and they lose everything. From that point on, you can be sure they’ll be backing things up. Today there are numerous options for backing up data from just a basic external hard drive to online backups over the Internet. For the small cost of setting something like this up you’ll be glad you did if you ever run into problems.